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WVAS Local

Obama education official announces initiative for schools

Montgomery, AL – - The Obama administration plans to toughencivil rights enforcement in the nation's schools with a broadreview touching on everything from academics to discipline. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the initiative Mondayduring a speech in Selma, where he helped commemorate the 45thanniversary of a bloody confrontation between voting rightsdemonstrators and law enforcement. He spoke from the bridge thatmarchers had crossed when the attack took place in 1965. Duncan said the Education Department's civil rights officehasn't been as vigilant as needed over the last decade. The agency will soon begin conducting reviews to determinewhether students have equal access to opportunities, includingcollege-prep classes. Duncan said it also will issue a series ofguidelines to public schools and colleges addressing issues offairness and equity.